By the time Xiao Lei finally stepped out of Heaven’s Forge, the sun was already dipping toward afternoon. To any passerby, the sight would have been striking. The manager herself escorting him to the door, her polite smile practiced to perfection. To an outsider’s eye, it looked like deference—like he was some wealthy patron whose presence demanded personal attention.

  The truth was far less flattering for her.

  Xiao Lei knew exactly why she had accompanied him. Not to honour him, but to ensure he actually left—and didn’t linger to set his greedy little eyes on anything else inside the shop.

  He almost laughed at the thought.

  Still, he was in good spirits. Not only had he walked away with the Stormbranch Bow, an Earth-grade low-level treasure complete with its matching quiver, but he had also placed a custom order with their weapon master.

  At first, the old craftsman had seemed bored, his manner curt. But when Xiao Lei explained that he wanted not just a glove for close combat, but one with retractable claws, the man’s eyes lit with sudden fire. His calloused fingers flexed unconsciously, as though already feeling the weight of steel taking shape. After a long breath of thought, he gave a short nod and declared the weapon could be ready within a week. Then he left almost eagerly, his steps quick, mind already consumed by the design.

  As for the cost—Xiao Lei hardly spared it a thought. Either it would be waived entirely, or Mantu would shoulder it. One way or another, it wasn’t his problem.

  With that matter settled, his mind turned to the next step. He had yet to acquire any proper techniques. Until now, he had relied on his Echo Arts—unique and potent abilities, yes, but meant to be trump cards, not daily tools.

  They had carried him this far, paired with raw, close-quarters brutality. But brute force alone would not open the next gate.

  He was already planning to head for the Technique Hall when voices drifted toward him from the side path.

  “You going to try?” one youth asked, his voice low, uneasy.

  “Do I have a choice?” the other muttered. “Without entering the Valley… I’ll never break past mediocrity.”

  The first boy shook his head. “Only twenty spots. Odds like that… I’d rather not shame myself.”

  A bitter laugh slipped from the second. “Better shame than regret. Miss it, and stepping into Foundation realm will mean nothing. You’ll stay small forever.”

  Xiao Lei slowed. His steps stilled.

  Then, with a faint smile softening his features, he turned and approached them. His voice was light, almost innocent, when he called out:

  “Big brothers, what are you talking about?”

  His tone rang with childish innocence, but his gaze carried the quiet hunger of a wolf circling prey.

  ?? — ? — ??

  The Royal Academy pulsed with energy that afternoon. The plaza and walkways were crowded with students, their voices rising in a constant hum of chatter. At first glance it looked like any other busy day, yet if one watched carefully, it was clear something unusual was happening. The flow of bodies bent toward a single point, a tide drawn inexorably to the Training Hall.

  Xiao Lei walked among them.

  In a crowd, he blended in well enough. His frame was tall and sturdy for his age, but not so exceptional as to draw notice. Only the pale bow on his back, its surface faintly gleaming like carved bone, and the violet sheen of the quiver at his side gave him a touch of distinction. Still, compared to the flamboyant attitude and glittering artifacts of some, even those details barely made him stand out.

  He followed the flow of bodies, his gaze cool, his mind sharp. He had never visited this part of the Academy before, but today’s event was not something he intended to miss.

  After all, he had already pried the truth from two unsuspecting youths earlier—politely, of course.

  Today, the Academy was holding a test. From the countless students, only twenty would be chosen. At first, the rewards seemed ordinary: prizes, recognition, a brief moment of prestige. Had that been all, Xiao Lei would have spared it no thought. But the true lure lay in what came after.

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  Those twenty selected would, in a month’s time, be granted entry into a secret training ground under the Academy’s control.

  The Vanishing Valley.

  It was no ordinary place. The valley appeared only once every three years, opening for three short days before sealing itself away again, hidden until the next cycle. The name was no exaggeration—its very existence slipped away like mist.

  For students on the cusp of Foundation Establishment, it was a golden chance, perhaps the greatest one they might ever encounter.

  The reason was simple.

  Breaking into the Foundation Realm was not a matter of willpower alone. The quality of the “foundation” one laid determined a cultivator’s future path. At the lowest stood the Mortal grade. Above it, Earth. Then Sky. At the pinnacle, Heaven. The gap between each grade was vast. Even ten Mortal cultivators would crumble before a single Earth-grade foundation. And the higher one climbed, the sharper that disparity became.

  Normally, achieving only a Mortal foundation was almost unavoidable. Pills could aid the process, and while expensive, they were attainable for most people. But to reach beyond—into Earth grade and higher—required something far rarer: the absorption of natural lightning qi during the moment of breakthrough.

  And that was what the Vanishing Valley contained.

  The valley was said to contain natural lightning qi, pure and untamed, waiting to be seized. For those bold enough to risk it, it was the chance to carve a foundation far stronger than ordinary, to step onto the path of true experts.

  That was why the students surged toward the Training Hall today with such excitement. That was why whispers filled the air, some voices trembling with eagerness, others tight with fear of failure.

  And it was why Xiao Lei’s eyes glimmered faintly as he walked.

  For others, this test was a chance at prestige, at a stronger start. For him, it was something else entirely—a step on the road toward strength so great that even the heavens would bow.

  This was no simple test. It was a door. And he intended to see how wide it could open for him.

  After a quarter of an hour, Xiao Lei found himself before a raised platform, pressed in among the throng of students. At its centre rested a massive orb, translucent blue, its surface veined with faintly glowing sigils that flickered in and out of sight.

  There were not just one but several such platforms scattered across the grounds. For all its name, the “Training Hall” was no hall at all. Instead, it spread like a vast clearing within a lush wilderness—towering trees ringed the edges, the air alive with the scent of earth and leaves. It gave the uncanny impression that they had stepped not into an Academy courtyard, but into a hidden forest.

  Xiao Lei’s gaze roamed across the strange scene. Then a voice broke the restless murmur.

  “Silence.”

  A middle-aged man had appeared atop the platform, his presence carrying the weight of authority. His features were sharp, his robes simple but immaculate. This was Elder Yi, the one presiding over today’s test.

  At once, the students’ focus shifted to him.

  “I trust,” Elder Yi began, his tone level, “that you all know the purpose of today’s examination. I will not waste time repeating it. However—” His eyes swept the crowd, narrowing slightly. “—there has been a development. The Academy must adjust its plans.”

  A ripple of unease spread through the students.

  “What happened?” someone whispered. “Don’t tell me… the Vanishing Valley won’t open this year?”

  The same fear sparked in many hearts.

  “Silence!” Elder Yi’s voice cracked like thunder. He infused his words with qi, and the command rang in every ear, leaving no room for disobedience. The murmurs died instantly.

  Only when all eyes were upon him again did he continue.

  “The Academy has discovered an anomaly. For reasons unknown, the density of Earth-grade lightning qi within the Vanishing Valley is lower than expected. As such, only fifteen students will be permitted entry this year.”

  The announcement struck like a boulder thrown into still water.

  “Only fifteen?!”

  “That’s too few!”

  “Impossible!”

  The uproar was immediate. Every student knew what this meant. Of the twenty usual slots, ten were traditionally claimed by the Academy’s inner disciples—the so-called prodigies, who had long been biding their time to step into Foundation Establishment at the perfect moment.

  Take Mu Pei, for example. An outer disciple, he had stunned the Academy two years ago by defeating a peak ninth-stage cultivator while still only at the seventh stage of Qi Awakening. Since then, he had suppressed his own cultivation, deliberately holding back, waiting for the chance to seize Earth-grade lightning qi in the Vanishing Valley. For talents like him, this opportunity was priceless, beyond what even wealth could purchase.

  And Mu Pei was not alone. The inner academy brimmed with talents who had been holding their breath for this very moment. The ten reserved spots were like gift and chains for those inner students.

  That’s why the inner disciples’ share was untouchable. If the number of available places dropped to fifteen, that meant only five remained for the hundreds of outer students crowding the field.

  The uproar swelled like a rising storm—cries of protest, anger, even despair. But then Elder Yi raised a hand. His tone softened, yet it carried a weight that silenced the air itself.

  “Enough. You have not heard all. Within the Vanishing Valley, the Academy has discovered faint traces… of Sky-grade lightning qi.”

  For a breath, the world stopped. The crowd froze mid-gesture, words strangled in their throats. Even the forest beyond seemed to hold itself still.

  Sky-grade.

  The words crashed through Xiao Lei’s chest like a thunderclap. He felt his pulse quicken, eyes narrowing as the meaning sank in. Earth-grade lightning was rare enough, the dream of every disciple striving for Foundation Establishment. But Sky-grade? That was the kind of chance that could forge a Sovereign. The kind of power that could make heaven bow.

  Around him, students trembled—some in awe, some in dread. Xiao Lei’s lips curved faintly, though his gaze stayed sharp and unreadable. To most here, this revelation was an impossible summit, a treasure beyond reach. But to him, it was different. His ambition did not falter at the word impossible.

  If the heavens had opened such a path, then he would seize it.

  No matter the odds.

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  Destiny Reckoning. It’s set in the same universe, and you definitely don’t want to miss it, because the stories will eventually crossover.